Probing Italy: A Scanning Probe Microscopy Storyline
Year: 2023
Authors: Dinelli F., Brucale M., Valle F., Ascoli C., Samorm B., Sartore M., Adami M., Galletti R., Prato S., Troian B., Albonetti C.
Autors Affiliation: Ist Nazl Ott CNR INO, Consiglio Nazl Ric, Via Moruzzi 1, I-56124 Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Consiglio Nazl Ric Ist Studio Materiali Nanostrutt, Via P Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy; Univ Bologna, Dept Pharm & BioTechnol, Via S Donato 19-2, I-40127 Bologna, Italy; ElbaTech Srl, Via Roma 10, I-57030 Marciana, Italy; APE Res Srl, Area Sci Pk, I-34149 Trieste, Italy.
Abstract: Starting from the late 1980’s, scanning probe microscopy has progressively diffused in Italy until today. In this paper, we provide a brief account of the main historical events and a current picture of the distribution of the active groups. A survey was prepared by LimeSurvey, made of six sections asking for personal and institutional data, human resources, equipment available, fields of interest, research projects, educational/dissemination activities, and two relevant publications in the last six years. It turns out that the Italian community includes more than seventy groups and two companies. It is widely diffused, although mostly concentrated near large academic and research institutions, often in locations where prominent Italian researchers have operated. This community is active in many scientific fields and can produce research of high international quality. It shows a wide competence, as proven by the list of research works published in journals ranked within the top 20% class. The diffusion of SPM microscopes in industry is still sporadic, possibly due to extensive collaborations between the research institutions and industries themselves. The authors hope that this work might be useful to the community and beyond, and that it might stimulate the formation of a more structured network.
Journal/Review: MICRO-SWITZERLAND
Volume: 3 (2) Pages from: 549 to: 565
More Information: In Pisa, the group led by Ascoli at the Istituto di Biofisica of the CNR realized the first AFM-STM setup in 1989 [] and published its first account on AFM in 1992 []. This study investigated the mechanical and thermal effects on AFM cantilevers induced by laser absorption and reflection, including the measurement of radiation pressure. This achievement was possible thanks to the financial support of a European project (European Economic Community under Contract no. BREU 145) and by the CNR (as part of Progetto Strategico \u201CMicroscopia Tunneling\u201D).KeyWords: scanning probe microscopy; atomic force microscopy; scanning tunneling microscopy; STM; AFMDOI: 10.3390/micro3020037Citations: 2data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2025-01-12References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)